Tolls of the bell tower

The bells ring for news!

The Owl undergoes renovations

After being open for much of the summer, the University of Regina’s bar is now closed as the place undergoes renovations. The first in a three-step process, the renovation hopes to improve the atmosphere of the place and making it a usable venue as a concert house and everyday place to eat. Despite the renos, the bar is still serving lunch in the multipurpose room. Thank goodness the food is good or there would be absolutely no reason to sit and munch on food in a place that looks suspiciously like a nightmarish cafeteria.

Dentist office to be installed at University of Regina

Soon the frustrated ranting of the doomed Carillon staff members will be accompanied by the sounds of drills and chatty dental assistants. The office that was the former home of the health and dental plan staff has been repurposed into a dentist’s office. No word yet on when the place will be open and ready to join the ranks of the health services available in the kinesiology building.

Theatre department announces new season

The theatre department has announced its new season. Seasoned director Kenn McLeod will direct Spring’s Awakening in the fall semester, with Curtain Razor and Michele Sereda, the artist-in-residency, and Joey Tremblay directing his own creation, Bad Blood, during the winter. Tremblay recently directed the U of R’s performance of The King Stag (another one of his creations) and gave a talk as part of the Saskatchewan Playwright’s Reading Series. McLeod is spending this summer directing at Estevan’s Souris Valley Theatre with two U of R connections especially present. Student Tori Yuzik is part of the stage management team, and instructor William (Bill) Hales, spending his time spearheading the technical side.

UPASS opt-out dates published

With the somewhat controversial passing of the UPass, the University of Regina Students’ Union has come up with a plan for the barrage of opt outs they are likely to see in the fall. In terms of eligibility, those who live within a kilometre of campus, outside of Regina, or in one of the residences will be able to opt out of the program that will see $87 added per semester. It remains to be seen what kind of positive effect the initiative will have in turning campus into a transit hub. The opt-out period will extend to Oct. 4.

Prince Albert and area affected by oil spill

A Husky oil spill along the North Saskatchewan River has left left communities in the Battlefords and Prince Albert area(s) without their main source of water. The back up plan for North Battleford is to use a reservoir while, at the time of this writing, Prince Albert’s plan is unclear. Wildlife organizations in the area are already taking donations as the harmful effects of oil begin to show their face.